The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) joined forces with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and the National Reading Coalition (NRC) to commemorate International Literacy Day in September 2024.

Together, they collaborated with NGOs and Education Departmental Districts to implement various initiatives, including reading dialogues.

One of the key events was the Provincial Literacy Dialogue, held at the Methodist Church of South Africa in Bizana on October 15, 2024.  This dialogue focused on the theme "Literacy as Social Practice: Celebrating and Promoting African Languages in Our Communities."

The goal was to enrich children's experiences through reading and writing, highlighting the unique value of African languages.  In addition, the event was an effort to respond to the notion that, 80% of South African children struggle to read by age 10(Article released by BBC News on the 17^th of May 2023).

To address this, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and Department of Basic Education's Read to Lead campaign launched the National Reading Coalition (NRC).

Muzi Mbatha, Provincial NECT Coordinator for Eastern Cape, delivered a compelling presentation titled "A Vision of Inclusive, Holistic, and Comprehensive Literacy Approach - New Literacy Strategy 2024-2030.

"He emphasized the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030's goal of providing South Africans with quality education and training to enhance learning outcomes and performance in international standardized tests, comparable to countries with similar development levels.

Mbatha critiqued testing regimes and their limitations, highlighting the racist views of teaching literacy as if it exists in a social vacuum.  He advocated for incorporating "African Logic" into reading models, leveraging orality as a starting point.

Mbatha concluded by stressing the importance of teaching reading in African languages, validating local stories, and bringing them to life.

The pupils from St. Patrick’s Senior Primary School and Didi Primary school recited poems and showcased their reading abilities in both IsiXhosa and English, much to the audience’s excitement.

Four commissions ensued with the following topics: Promoting Literacy at home, Strengthening Literacy in Schools, Collaborative Efforts between Schools and Communities, and Access to African-Language Resources.

The Provincial Literacy Dialogue was a resounding success, warmly received by the community and learners from local schools St. Patricks and Didi Primary School. District Director, Zoleka Khuzwayo extended a heartfelt appreciation to all attendees, expressing gratitude for this crucial dialogue.